Jersey Referees to strike over bad behaviour

[Brin]

Referees in Jersey will go on strike on Saturday in protest over continued poor behaviour at matches.

Their action will affect all fixtures in Jersey, including the game between the island's top two sides, St Paul's and St Peter, which could decide who wins the league title.

Referees threatened to quit in October after 10 red cards in 12 games.

Incidents include a physical assault on a match official and abuse from players, coaches and spectators.

The Jersey Football Referees Association (JFRA) say three ****age officials locked themselves in a changing room after a match following "prolonged insults from some junior players, their coach and also some parents/supporters."


The statement continued: "Our executive met very recently and had an in depth discussion on this matter and came to a clear collective consensus that the time was now right for referees themselves to stand up and be counted and to seriously consider taking some form of action.

"Referees of all levels have been subjected to continued misconduct including that physical assault and lots of insulting and offensive abuse, often of a ***ually inappropriate nature, which then become serious safeguarding and welfare issues.

"It was agreed that a message needs to be sent out to clubs, players of all ages, managers/coaches, parents and spectators that such incidents can no longer be tolerated, and if we don't act now island football will lose more referees which it simply cannot afford to do."

"Just last week a disciplinary hearing banned a local player for six months for grabbing a referee's shirt and aggressive conduct.

In 12 games on the island on Saturday, 10 players were sent off compared to four red cards in all of the 54 games in the top five divisions in England.



It won't be long before an official is seriously injured in football. Behaviour from players and management is getting out of control.

[CAMiller]

Hard to believe such bad behaviour in a league where the top teams are called St Paul's and St Peter. Wouldn't happen in an Islamic league I'm sure

[Grist_To_The_Mill]

Hard to believe such bad behaviour in a league where the top teams are called St Paul's and St Peter. Wouldn't happen in an Islamic league I'm sure

True, it’s hard to manhandle the ref if you have no hands.

[Pattylallacks2]

Sanctions may be needed to force players to Channel their behaviour more positively.

[millertop]

Well if it’s that bad then they do right.

It doesn’t happen that bad here but I won’t be surprised if the likes of Langford get knocked out at some point